Teach Soap

So, I am going to attempt another batch of soap this evening,!! yay!!

I made this same base recipe with 4 essential oils and it possibly overheated.
I made this same recipe with oatmeal/honey (in cooled lye water) and it overheated (crumbly when fresh cut) but it also partial gelled.

Is this even possible to have the same batch overheat and not reach a full gel?

I am trying to weed out what could be causing the problems. I'm sure its the oils and the honey, but, trying to figure out what to do next to avoid these problems. This batch I dont think I am going to insulate, I pour in a wooden log mold.

Thanks for some input!

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Kristen D. Vineyard
visit my blog http://washwithvegetables.blogspot.com

Honey or milk can overheat. So can some essential oils and fragrance oils. Yes, a batch can overheat without reaching a full gel. Since you are using a wooden mold (which insulates well), why not try a batch and just put a towel over it? If it looks like it's starting to overheat, you can take the towel off or put a fan on it.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

You could try adding the honey to the lye water instead of the oils. It seems to behave better that way. It also turns the lye orange--but doesn't seem to affect the final color of the soap.

Did you put your mold in the fridge to chill it before you pour?

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

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Kristen D. Vineyard
visit my blog http://washwithvegetables.blogspot.com

I think part of your problem is that you are putting the lid on, trapping the heat. Put a piece of saran wrap or wax paper over the top instead and see if that works out better for you. I don't use lids at all.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Hummm...OK. I will give that a try and see what happens! Thanks!

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Kristen D. Vineyard
visit my blog http://washwithvegetables.blogspot.com

I make all my soaps with honey, and haven't had a problem with overheating but my soaping area is in my cool basement, and those few degrees might make a difference. That's why I thought chilling the mold might help, too.

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

Mellifera, I am thinking about adding some honey to my carrot soap next week... have not tried this since my very first batch of soap. Do you add it to the lye water before the lye or after it has cooled off? TIA!!

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!